The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-03-23
Arrest Of "saId knobbers.- .

81 Louis. March 17.-Dispatches from
Ozark, Mo. say that eleven members Of the
Bald knobbers organization were arrested
and brought there yesterday, making nine
teen in all now under arrest and confined
there. The prisoners are believed to include
leading spirits of the gang and also a major
ity of the masked band concerned in the
murder of William Eden and Charles Green
last Friday night Dave Walker. the leader,
or commander-in-chief, as he i called, of the
Bald knobbers. married man and mem
ber of the Baptist Church, is among those
arrested as also are c. G. Simmons, a Bap-
tist preacher Joseph Page aud Wilson Alb
bott, members of the same church. The
other prisoners are generally farmers and
most of them are married ranging in age
from nineteen 10 fifty~four years. Joseph
lnman, one of the prisoners, made confess
ion yesterday afternoon, giving much infor-
nation TO the authorities regarding the organ
ization. and telling how the killing of Green
and Eden came about He said that on last
Friday night some thirty or forty members
of the company to which he belonged were
called together BY Dave Walker, its chief, 10
go down to Swan Greek and pour out some
illict whiskey which was being sold by Rocky
BIZ Roberts. Some of the gang were mount
ed and Others on foot and a the road was
bad and the distance four miles, Walker told
the unmounted men that they could 90
home and that be and those who had horses
would look after the Roberts matter. When
the party got near Eden house some of the
young men proposed TO go there and have
some fun, and started for the house head
ed by William Walker, son of Chief Walker.
The latter called him back and tried to per
suade them not TO 60 but they gave no heed
to either advice or commands and Went 10
Elem, house, where they smashed in the
doors and windows and killed young + len
and Green William Walker was shot in ,.e
assault and left his shotgun and mask in
Elen's yard He was carried home by bis
father and is now believed to be concealed in
the woods He is said to be seriously if not
fatally wounded having received ball ia
the groin. supposed 10 have been fired by the
elder Eden when his doors were torn down.
Tine man telling the story did not 20 to the
Eden house and did not know that anyho lv
had been killed but heard the firing aad
thought some of the family had been hurt
rs soon as this confession was made
Sheriff johnson handcufled the men most
seriously criminated by lnman, and they
were greatly overcome when they heard that
lnman had confessed Preacher simmons
was one of those vine attacked Eden. house
\ strong guard has been placed over the
prisoners. as it j. apprehended the Bald
knobbcr> will attempt to rescue them. in
man has been sent to the Springfield Jail at
his own urgent request, he being in mortal
terror of being lynched. lie says he joined
the organization under protest. being forced
at the muzzle Of a shotgun, with a rope
round his neck to swear allegience To the
deadly fraternity He has had sympathy with
the band and has attended their meetings
because he was afraid to refuse to do So 1t
is believed by good citizens OF the county
that the arrest of these men and their trial
will break up the organization. and every
effort will be made to that end.